Light recommendation for a 180 gallon aquarium

Huge difference in lighting requirements between a SPS tank and a FOWLR... You should decide what you're wanting to keep before purchasing... Unless you don't mind spending a lot more $$$...
 
FOWLR.... Maybe some SPS, Polyp's

'ahem, contradiction in terms... time to do some serious thinking and make up your mind because the two types of tanks are very, very different considering ALL of your equipment needs.
 
VHO's baby... The only way to go... ;) Just an opinion... Do the research... You'll be better for it...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8540046#post8540046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ct_vol
VHO's baby... The only way to go... ;) Just an opinion... Do the research... You'll be better for it...
Click to expand...

I agree, I've even seen some nice sps under VHO. I had a soft-coral tank 90g with 4 x 4' VHO, plenty of light for lots of different soft corals. I like the color from VHO actinics more than power compacts, but that's just me :D

Anyone in the club running VHO bulbs? Can anyone share pics?

Matt
 
I'll try and post some this afternoon... :) Have to go to work and make some money... Been slacking off too much here lately...
 
I have been using haldies for a while, though I do like the t-5's...I am a big fan of tank shimmer, you can't get that with any florecent bulb....

Halides are the best for reefing, you can keep anything you want, just be selective on were you put softies (towards the bottom)
 
t5's are fantastic!!! I'll be changing my 75 to t5's from VHO's... The thing is that they don't make 72" t5's and they do make 72" VHO's... So unless you want to get two fixtures, the VHO's are a better bet... I agree that MH's are the best for reef tanks, but they are overkill for anything other than clams or SPS... And I wouldn't want to invest that much in a lighting system and then have to keep all my corals on the bottom of the tank... Mushrooms can be especially sensitive to intense light...

Here's my 75 under VHO's

IMG_0681.jpg
 
:( Neither to tell the truth... With t5's you want the individual bulb reflectors such as in the SLS TEK fixtures or Sun Blaze fixtures for optimum performance... The Novas have one reflector for all 4 or 8 bulbs and you lose intensity... IMO compact flourescents aren't good enough for a 24" tank... But take that for what its worth... Just an opinion...



Why isn't anyone else chiming in here to help the poor fellow out???
 
I think most in the club have succumbed to MH of one wattage or another and dont have enough experience to make recommendations. People have recommended VHOs, others have recommended T5s and others MH. You seem to be chiming in most and I suspect with your multiple tanks you have the most varied lighting.

By his conclusion to softies, I'd say VHO or T5 but I have no experience with either so cant give a "recommendation". Personally, I hope he goes T5 because I dont know of anyone in the club running them and I'm thinking about it with my new tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8555499#post8555499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by imsqueak
Personally, I hope he goes T5 because I dont know of anyone in the club running them and I'm thinking about it with my new tank.
Click to expand...

I agree! (that I'd like to see T5 lighting around here that is)

If you just want to keep some hardy soft corals though, I don't see anything wrong with power compacts, it just might be nice to have VHO or T5 if you decide you'd like to keep more demanding corals. I have PC lights on two of my reefs, but I don't do serious sps, (only Monti digi/cap really).
Soft-coral reefs under PC lights:
3307637_Reef.JPG

3307658g_oceanic.jpg
 
Good eye Randy! P. maculosus, half-moon angel from the Red Sea. It's tank-raised (got him from liveaquaria). They're catching these guys as post-larvae and growing them up in captivity--I liked the idea because he was disease-free and eating aquarium food when I got him. I think that pic is from late Feb or March of this year; he's grown a bit since then, and he's going to need a BIG tank in the future ;)
 
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